Bukit Merah View Carrot Cake is an esteemed gem in the Bukit Merah neighbourhood that boasts bona fide, delicious fried carrot cake and >60 years of family heritage. It is owned and run by three brothers; two wok masters and one who handles the prep work.
Many residents swear by their carrot cake, claiming it to be the best around. Eager to demystify those bold claims, we paid a visit (disclaimer: way before Circuit Breaker) to uncover the hype behind their version of the quintessentially Singaporean snack.
Perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner and supper, these folks operate two shifts a day from as early as 7:30 AM till as late as 1:30 AM daily.
At the height of their business, the three brothers would take turns milling the rice by hand. They used a mill made out of granite, transforming the course grounds of rice into a silky smooth liquid which would then be steamed along with diced carrots to form the finished, firm yet pudding-like carrot cake.
But as age has caught up, the brothers have turned to other less strenuous means of production. The upside is that the factory that supplies them their carrot cakes still resorts to traditional milling techniques rather than using rice flour.
Black Carrot Cake – Sweet Version
There’s often debate surrounding fried carrot cake. Is the sweetish black version better or the plain white version? While we generally lean towards the former, we must acknowledge that both versions have their merits and their inferiorities. Eager to unveil the notion that both can be enjoyable despite being drastically different in taste, we ordered both the Black version (S$3) and White (S$3) version.
Like any good black carrot cake, theirs comes loaded with generous amounts of fried egg, chopped scallions, chye poh (preserved radish), garlic and copious amounts of sweet black sauce. The carrot cake cubes were nice and soft, bruised and mushy around the edges. But still retained its structure—a clear indication of carrot cake prepared right. Taste-wise, it was impressive. The sweet caramelised exterior possessed a deep charred aroma and the overall mouthfeel, a butt-kicking combo of savouriness and sweetness.
White Carrot Cake – Savoury Version
The juxtaposition of the white version alongside its sweeter, darker-hued counterpart may seem as though it’s lacking in certain areas. But we assure you it’s just as enticing, if not more! While the sweetness of the black version provided a nice balance to the savoury dish, it tends to overshadow everything else. If fried carrot cake were a pop song, the white version would be the stripped-down, acoustic version of it.
Going in for the first bite, the thing that hits you immediately is the savoury wok-hei flavour underscored by a heady explosion caused by the egg, the garlic, the chye poh and the sambal chilli. If you prefer a cleaner taste that leans toward a more savoury edge, we recommend going for the white version.
Address: 115 Bukit Merah View Market & Hawker Centre, 115 Bukit Merah View, #01-37, Singapore 151115
Opening Hours: 7.30AM – 1.30PM, 4.30PM – 1.30AM (Daily)
Contact: +65 9691 2628
Nearest MRT Station: Redhill
Disclaimer: Uncover Asia made an anonymous visit to Bukit Merah View Carrot Cake before Circuit Breaker and paid for their own meal.
Read our guide to supper spots in Asia.
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